It’s been almost two months since we pulled out of the church parking lot. We have already traveled thousands of miles, been in many of the beautiful states that we enjoy in our great country, and have had the privilege to be in some very special churches and visit some of the Lord’s greatest servants!
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Beverly Hammett – Streams in the Desert
Wow, so much has been happening lately, I am not sure where to start. They say time flies when you are having fun—so we must be having lots of fun! I can honestly say that we are enjoying our time here and are keeping busy doing the work that God has called us to do.
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Kristin Hammett – Village Vista
Greetings from the land of cardboard and packing lists! I am SO thankful the weather has cooled off a bit. It is a beautiful time of year to be packing. We are in the process of packing up our entire house, and moving into a storage facility for the time we are on furlough. The house we were renting already has been rented out again after we leave. We will most likely have to find another place next term. God knew exactly where we needed to be this time, and knows where we need to be next time too. There are always people we would probably have never met, except that God had placed us in the same neighborhood.
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Debbie Wilhite – Africa’s Ambassadors
It’s SO good to be home with my family in Africa. These past months have held some adjustments for all of us as we shift back into a routine that includes my presence. The older girls did a very commendable job caring for the needs of the family, managing the house, and playing mommy-daddy-sisters to the other children. I’m very grateful for all the children and their workable, willing spirits. We also have been able to enjoy the company of George and Jackie Wyatts, James & Diane Kyeyune from Uganda, the Doug Hammetts, and the George Hammetts, as well as a personal quick trip for me to see Donna Kuzel. You can’t buy good friends and sweet fellowship!
Gentleness
Do you like babies? If you are like most girls, your answer is an enthusiastic, “Yes!” Of course you love babies! They are little and cute and so very soft! Think back to the last time you were able to hold a tiny newborn. How did you cradle that baby in your arms and speak to him? Very carefully? Probably you held the little one delicately and spoke tenderly. This is what I think of when I hear the word gentle. Gentleness is not only something we need when caring for a tiny baby, but it is an important character trait for girls, just like you, to learn.
A Lesson in Prudence
They lived happily together in their beautiful new home. It was the perfect love story – for a while. Until the day when everything went wrong.
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How to Get Where You’re Going (You Have to Know Where)
Armed with her GPS, her glovebox stuffed with backup maps, and a full tank of gas, Sheila headed for the turnpike. “Ah, I love road trips!” she said, windows down to the spring breeze and her favorite artists singing through the stereo. Entrance ramps ahead, she glanced in her mirror and changed lanes. “WAIT! Where am I going?” she thought.
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Board Book Lessons
We have a particular little board book that has been read over and over again to each of our babies and they have all enjoyed it. It’s about a duckling who leaves the pond looking for someone to play with and asking himself the question, “What did God make me to do?” Invariably, he becomes more and more disappointed as he encounters several little creatures (like a lamb, mole, squirrel, and bunny) and they are each eager to play with him, only Little Duckling isn’t able to scamper or dig or climb or hop with the new friend. Almost at the point of desperation, up waddle three other ducklings and remind Little Duckling that he is very good at swimming. Of course Little Duckling joins the other ducklings back on the pond, swimming his little heart out and happy to have found, or rather been reminded again, of “what God made little ducklings to do.”
Expectations, Pt 3
So how do we handle expectations? There are definitely some wrong ways to handle them. A wife may passively comply with what is expected of her, trying to meet everyone’s expectations, no matter how unrealistic. But underneath, that woman will have an inner rage that shows up in her relationship with her husband and her children, and in her relationships at church. She is a ticking time bomb.
Dry Places
“Dry places” in these verses refer to specific locations without water. How interesting it is to me that the unclean spirit seeks out such places to abide. How can fruit come from such a place? I am reminded of the Parable of the Sower. Some seed came to rest on the stony ground, a dry place indeed. That seed was gladly received, but found no place to root there; and so withered and died. Seed cannot grow in such a place. We will look in vain for fruit in a barren place.
The Teenage Years of Jesus Christ
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.”
Coffee Cream Puffs
Want to make a fancy dessert, a yummy dessert and a yet an easy dessert? How about cream puffs? Growing up, I was always thrilled when my Mom made cream puffs, and she made them fairly often. They look so pretty and some people shy away from them because they think they are difficult to make, but in reality they are quite easy. They take only four basic ingredients, well five with the water!
Fever
There is a common misconception that all symptoms are bad and must be eliminated. These thoughts stem from a philosophy by which the entire medical profession practices. The term “allopath”, on which allopathic medicine is based, is the practice of opposites. If you have a fever, then lower it. If it is swollen, reduce the swelling. Homeopathy is based on the practice of same. If you have tears, produce more. Neither philosophy, in my opinion, will be 100% correct, 100% of the time. At some point as a child of God, you may have to evaluate your health decisions, and understand that the professional opinion is based upon a philosophy that the doctor knows better than the body. Did not the Creator of the universe design our bodies? Remembering that our bodies are designed, let us consider a common process – the fever.
Creativity
I know what you may be thinking… Creativity has nothing to do with frugality. I’m just not one of those “creative people”!
But before you dismiss this article as not for you, let’s think about what creativity is.